ACHY BREAKY ART

Miley Cyrus is caught in a whirlwind of moral talk at the moment. She has been captured by photographer Annie Leibovitz in a provocative pose. The photo is, aesthetically speaking, a beautiful shot of the very young singer-actress. The half-body portrait shot shows Miley in what looks like an undressed state, seated and holding up a blanket to her front -- shot from her right side. The photo appears in the June issue of Vanity Fair.

The problem is that Miley is a 15 year old girl. And if you want to nit pick -- can even be called a child-porn photo. Parents whose children are avid fans of Miley immediately created an uproar when they caught sight of the Leibovitz-Vanity Fair photos.

Miley has already issued an apology to everyone, especially her young fans. She is a big star on Disney Channel's Hannah Montana and cannot risk tarnishing her wholesome image. The Miley merchandising machinery in the United States alone is a billion-dollar industry.

Miley is the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus who had a worldwide hit with his song Achy Breaky Heart in 1992.

Leibovitz is widely celebrated as the photographer of choice for Hollywood celebrities and politicians. She met her lover Susan Sontag in 1989 and was very close to Sontag till Sontag died in 2004.

POLITICIANS AND THE MATTER OF DIGNITY

It is about time the DAP politicians in office started behaving in a more dignified manner. They must remember that they are in office and certain level of professionalism is expected of them instead of wasting taxpayers' money by busying themselves coining choice slag-words for those formerly in office.

Get on with it, boys.

RELIGION AND POLITICS - MUST REMAIN SEPARATE

Perak Mentri Besar is showing his PAS colours and it is good that the royal house of Perak has intervened and made it very clear that the Perak Religious Department is off limits.

ALL of us in this country -- ESPECIALLY ALL THE LIBERALS AND PROGRESSIVES OF EVERY RACE, COLOUR AND SEX -- must do everything within our powers to block religious zealots from holding positions of high office. There must be a separation of religion and politics. Failing to ensure the separation of state and religion will only lead to bloodshed as religion is a powerful tool that can both manipulate and move unthinking people into violence.